Tampa Bay area sailors finish off successful year

Each year, the keelboats racing in various events around the bay are scored for boat of the year.

For the year ending May 2007, Tampa Bay area winners were George Hanie on Time Bandit, Rafael Paris on Tango III, Steve and Scott Liebel on Stars & Stripes and James Meyers on Renegade.

In the fun category, Boca Ciega Yacht Club had more than 60 boats in its annual Raft-Up, and many clubs had organized cruises to destinations around the bay.

The SPYC Isla Mujeres Mexico race was a success, leading to a record fleet signing up for this year's event. With a limit of 50 slips at the Mexican port, more than 70 are ready to go. A mooring field is planned.

John Wallace won the Laser Radial Canadians; John Jennings won the San Francisco Masters; Jen French won the Gruson-Milam trophy; Robby Brown won the J/24 regatta; Zeke Durica won the Ensign Midwinters; and Ian Heausler won the Laser Radial Youth Nationals.

Rachel Silverstein along with Jee Lee, Kristen Harman, Kelsee Connon and Becca Thomas achieved status in match racing. Gene Hinkle was the technical director at the Disabled Sailing Worlds and chief measurer at other events, and Serge Jorgensen served as the international president of the disabled sailors organization. Team FOR with coach Eric Bardes won the SE Team Racing Championship and placed in the worlds with sailors Michael Booker, Mary Kate Hall, Dodge Rees, Michael Zonnenberg and Michael Popp.

None of these events could occur without the skilled volunteers who help run them. Competitors may have a bad start to a race, make errors in navigation or sail trim - but they expect the race committee to run a perfect race.